Ostomy coupling

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates generally to an ostomy coupling having a first part for attachment to a patient and a second part secured to a collection bag and coupled in a tight-fitting relationship with the first part. A radially deformable locking ring mutually retains the first and second parts together. The locking ring is an open ring having opposed ends. The ends are positionable in a pre-locked first mutual position, in which the coupled first and second parts are mutually loosely connected and a second mutual position in which the coupled first and second parts are mutually locked The locking ring is movable with one of the first and second parts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an ostomy coupling comprising a firstpart with a neck, a second part with a collar adapted to be coupled intight-fitting relationship with the neck of the first part, one of theparts being intended to be attached to a patient, the other part beingsecured to a collection bag, and a locking ring for mutually retainingthe parts.

The invention is primarily constructed as a lockable coupling forretaining ostomy equipment, such as bags for collection of evacuationsfor surgically formed, artificial intestinal orifices, and for retainingclosure-like locking devices for such artificial bodily orifices, but itis also suited for retaining ostomy, incontinence, wound and fistuladrainages, including retaining bags for collection of urea fromincontinent natural or artificial urinary orifices.

Such couplings are usually annular and the part intended to be attachedto a patient (in the following called the patient part) is oftenprovided with a plate or flange applied with an adhesive by which thepatient part is adhered to the patient's skin and which is generallychanged at an interval of several days. The second part of the coupling,which is secured to a bag for collecting faeces, in the following calledthe bag part, must for obvious reasons be completely tight-fitting tothe patient part.

GB 2 201 345 discloses a coupling for ostomy bags in which a locking orlatch ring must be flexed axially in order to couple and release thecoupling parts. Such axial flexing requires axial pulling forcesperpendicular to the wearer's skin, which can be very painful to thewearer.

Manipulation of the coupling parts during assembly and disassembly maycause great pain, especially to newly operated ostomy patients, andconsequently it is important that such manipulation transfers as few andsmall force loads as at all possible to the patient.

Consequently, it is desirable to provide a coupling of the kinddescribed with a locking mechanism so that assembly and disassembly maybe performed without causing heavy loads, while the coupling parts areretained together by the locking mechanism which can be brought into andout of engagement in an easy way without transferring any appreciableforce to the patient. It is furthermore important that the coupling,besides the patient part and the bag part, comprises no other loose orseparate parts, so that assembly and disassembly can be performedquickly, and in a simple and safe way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide such an ostomycoupling.

According to the invention the object is achieved by an ostomy couplingcomprising a first part attached to a patient and a second part securedto a collection bag, with a radial, deformable locking ring mutuallyretaining the parts in a tight-fitting relationship.

By the locking ring being an open ring movably retained with respect toone of the parts so that it is deformable between a first position and asecond position, in which the locking ring assumes two differentdiameters and the coupled parts are mutually loosely connected andmutually locked, respectively, it is achieved that the locking ring andthe part to which it is retained, is perceived by the user as being onesingle part. The locking ring can then be so positioned that in theposition in which the coupled parts are mutually loosely connected itcan by one single movement be made to assume the other position in whichthe parts are mutually locked and vice versa. By means of such an ostomycoupling comprising three parts the correct positioning of the lockingring is ensured, and the patient only needs to place the bag partcorrectly relative to the patient part without worrying about whetherthe locking ring is also correctly positioned, whereafter the parts arelocked with the locking ring.

By the locking ring being elastically deformable it is achieved thatwhen released the ring is capable by itself of assuming the position inwhich the coupled parts are mutually, loosely connected. The patientconsequently only needs to perform one single release operation beforethe coupled parts can be disassembled.

By an ostomy coupling having a first and second locking mechanism, thelocking ring can be released from that part to which it is secured, andsimilarly during manufacture it can in a simple way be positioned on andretained with respect to the same part. By the two locking mechanismsbeing independent of each other the patient in particular obtains theadvantage that the second locking mechanism is not unintentionallyactivated when operating the first locking mechanism. Thus it is ensuredthat the locking ring is constantly retained with respect to thecoupling part in question.

It is advantageous to retain the locking ring to the patient part, thelatter as mentioned being changed less frequently than the bag part.

Through the complementary engagement faces of the bag part and thelocking ring the bag part in its locked state can be retained in aminutely preselected position, and that in case of force load, e.g. theforce of gravity from a full bag, it will not undergo deformation ortilt, but remain centered, and thus at all times ensuring atight-fitting coupling.

When the first and second parts of the coupling have complementaryengagement faces adapted for axial engagement, no frictional force hasto be surmounted during assembly and disassembly, which is the case withfaces having substantially radial engagement.

This ensures the lowest possible force load and pain for the patient.These axial engagement faces can advantageously be slightly conical,achieving a centering effect during assembly.

A particularly efficient seal at the engagement faces is achieved whenat least one of these faces is provided with one or more circular ribssuch a rib by elastic deformation can easily be capable of adaptingitself to small unevennesses, if any, in the opposite engagement face,thus ensuring an efficient seal.

In order to avoid spilling of faeces when changing the bag, theengagement face of the patient part may along its periphery by providedwith an axially outwardly projecting edge, which will act as a barrier.

Furthermore, the locking ring has radially resilient tongues. Whenchanging the bag these tongues will ensure the centering of the lockingring in relation to the patient part, whereby the positioning of the bagpart is facilitated.

The locking ring can be retained to one of the coupling parts by meansof flexible straps. Hereby the locking ring and the coupling part inquestion can be integrally moulded, and by suitable choice of materialand dimensions, the straps will be able to contribute to the elasticresiliency of the locking ring.

In the following the invention is described in more detail, withreference being made to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a first embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a part of the coupling along lines of FIG.1,

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the part of the coupling which is intendedto be attached to a patient, and which is shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 shows a top view of another embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a part of the embodimentalong lines 5--5 in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention,

FIG. 7 shows the locking ring in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 in apre-locked position,

FIG. 8 shows the locking ring in FIG. 7, in a locked position,

FIG. 9 shows a part of the locking ring of FIGS. 6-8 in a completelyunlocked position,

FIG. 10 is a cross-section of the locking mechanism of the locking ringin the pre-locked position along lines 10--10 in FIG. 7,

FIG. 11 is a cross-section of the locking mechanism of the locking ringin the locked position along lines 11--11 in FIG. 8,

FIGS. 12 and 13 show parts of an alternative embodiment of the lockingring in a pre-locked and locked position, respectively,

FIG. 14 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the locking ringaccording to the invention in a completely unlocked position, and

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling in FIG. 6, providedwith a convex ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-3 show a first embodiment of the invention having an annularpatient part 101 with a short neck which is secured to a plate or flange(not shown) which is adapted for being attached to the patient's skinaround an ostomy orifice by means of an adhesive. A locking ring 102 isconnected by means of flexible straps 103 to a ring 104 being secured toa bag (not shown) for collecting faeces. The locking ring 102 and theannular bag part 104 are positioned at either side of the engagementtaps 105 constituting parts of the patient part 101. The locking ring102 and the bag part 104 are shown in FIG. 2 in a pre-locked position,allowing the bag part 104 with the locking ring 102 and the patient part101 to be assembled and disassembled. The locking ring 102 is flexibleand can be tightened from the position shown in FIG. 2 so that aradially inwardly directed protrusion 106 on the inner side of thelocking ring 102 engages with a complementary, radially outwardlydirected protrusion 107 on the engagement taps 105. The engagement taps105 are flexible and also include radially inwardly directed protrusions108 which engage with complementary and radially outwardly directedprotrusions 109 on the bag part 104. Thus, the bag is fixed relative tothe patient part 101, especially ensuring that they cannot be separated.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a variant of the above embodiment. A locking ring 202is secured by means of flexible straps 203 to an annular patient part201. In FIG. 5, the locking ring 202 is shown in a locked state, inwhich an annular bag part 204 is retained in a position inseparable frompatient part 201.

The preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6 has an annularpatient part 301 with a short neck having its under side adapted forbeing secured onto the adhesive plate or flange, by which the patientpart 301 is positioned on the patient's skin around an ostomy orifice.An annular bag part 304 is adapted at its upper side for being securedto a bag (not shown) for the collection of faeces from the ostomyorifice. An elastic resilient locking ring 302 is shown in a lockedposition in which it retains the bag part 304 in an inseparable positionrelative to the patient part 301.

The seal between the bag part 304 and the patient part 301 of thecoupling is constituted partly by a radially flexible lip ring 310 whichabuts against a corresponding face on the patient part 301, partly byaxial engagement between an engagement face 311 on the bag part 304 andan engagement face 312 on the patient part 301. The engagement face 312of the patient part is shown with an annular rib 313, and similarly alsothe engagement face of the bag part is shown with two such ribs 314 and315. As a result of force load from the locking ring 302 in the axialdirection, these ribs ensure a more reliable seal, as the axial contactfaces are thus relatively small so that the axial coupling force willsomewhat deform the ribs, and consequently small unevennesses, if any,on the contact faces are smoothened out as a consequence of theresulting elastic deformation of the materials.

It is further seen that the engagement faces 311 and 312 aresubstantially conical with a relatively large opening angle. The conicalshape of the engagement faces contribute to the centering of the bagpart 304 in relation to the patient part 301 when assembling theseparts, so that the risk of eccentric assembly of the parts issignificantly reduced.

The locking ring has an inwardly projecting part 316 shaped as anoutwardly open V, and which then tightening and locking the locking ringengages with a corresponding recess in the bag part. When pressing thelocking ring this V-shape produces the necessary axial coupling forcebetween the bag part 304 and the patient part 301. Further, this shapealso provides support for the bag part so that a possible force loadfrom e.g. a full ostomy bag cannot deform the locking ring, wherebycomplete seal and maximum user conform are ensured at all times.

From FIG. 6 it is also seen that along the periphery of the engagementface 312 of the patient part 301 there is an axially outwardlyprojecting edge 318 which during bag changing prevents or at leastsignificantly reduces spilling of faeces.

The locking effect, i.e. the tightening of the bag part 304 and thepatient part 301 is derived from the locking ring 302. In FIGS. 7-9 itis seen that the locking ring 302 is broken by an almost radial cut soas to be capable of assuming the three positions shown in FIGS. 7-9,respectively. FIG. 7 shows the locking ring in a pre-locked position,which is the position when the coupling is supplied to the user and whenit is attached to the user's body, and which permits changing of theostomy bag, as the coupled parts here are mutually loosely connected.FIG. 8 shows the locking ring 302 in a locked position in which it isalso shown in FIG. 6, and in which the bag part 304 is retained inposition in relation to the patient part 301. FIG. 9 shows the lockingring 302 in a completely open position, which position the locking ringhas during manufacture by moulding, and in which it can be positioned onthe patient part 301. The locking ring 302 is preferably moulded of anelastic resilient material and will thus naturally seek to assume thecompletely open position shown in FIG. 9. When locking mechanisms forthe locked and pre-locked position, respectively, of the ring arereleased, the locking ring will consequently by itself spring open andassume the pre-locked or the completely unlocked position, respectively.

In each of the three positions of the locking ring, the pre-locked, thelocked and the completely unlocked position, respectively, the lockingring has three different diameters.

As is seen in FIG. 6, the locking ring 302 has an inwardly projectingpart or edge 317 which has a smaller internal diameter than that of thepart 316 of the locking ring. These internal diameters are so adaptedthat in the pre-locked position of the ring in FIG. 7, the diameter ofthe part 316 of the locking ring which retains the bag part is increasedprecisely so much compared to the locked position that the bag part 304and the patient part 301 can easily be assembled and disassembled by amutual axial movement. In this pre-locked position of the locking ring,the part 317 of the locking ring is still in engagement with thecorresponding recess or groove 325 in the patient part 301, and thelocking ring is thus retained on the patient part.

Not until the locking ring 302 is opened to assume its completelyunlocked position in FIG. 9 can the locking ring be released from thepatient part 301.

FIG. 10 shows a section through the pre-locked locking mechanism of thelocking ring along the line X--X in FIG. 7. FIG. 11 shows a sectionthrough the locked locking mechanism of the locking ring along the lineXI--XI in FIG. 8. On a radially outwardly projecting protrusion 331, thelocking ring is provided with two elastic, axially resilient flaps 319which at their tips have axially outwardly projecting hooks 320, whichin the pre-locked position in FIG. 10 abut against correspondinginwardly directed hooks 321, and in the locked position in FIG. 11 abutagainst a hook 322. The hooks 321 and 322 are provided on a radiallyoutwardly projecting protrusion 332. In order to activate this lockingmechanism so as to pass from the pre-locked position in FIG. 10 to thelocked position in FIG. 11, the two protrusions 331 and 332 of thelocking ring are pressed together, and one of the hooks 320 enters intoa clicking-engagement with the hook 322. Through an opening 323, shownin FIGS. 7-9, it is possible by a slight touch of a finger to disengagethe hooks 320 and 322, whereby the locking mechanism due to itsresiliency reassumes the pre-locked position shown in FIG. 10.

In order to release the locking mechanism completely, the hooks 320 mustbe released from the hooks 321, and with a suitable construction of thehooks this is done when the protrusion 331 with the flaps 319, by aradial movement, are lifted free of the hooks 321 so that the lockingring assumes the unlocked position shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 14 shows the preferred embodiment of the locking ring according tothe invention in its completely unlocked state. A flap 324 herecorresponds to the flaps 319 in FIGS. 10 and 11, and the flap 324 has anaxially outwardly projecting hook 325 corresponding to the hooks 320 inFIGS. 10 and 11. Further, the locking ring in FIG. 14 has on eachseparate one of the protrusions 331 and 332, two hooks 326 and 327. Inthe pre-locked position of the locking ring these hooks are in mutualengagement, and the locking ring may be made to assume its completelyunlocked position in that the hook 326 by a radial movement is releasedfrom the hook 327. From the completely unlocked position the lockingring is easily made to assume both the pre-locked and locked position bypressing the locking ring.

In FIG. 14 it is further seen that some of the parts 317 of the lockingring are provided with radially inwardly projecting resilient tongues328, the tips of which lie on the circle having a diameter which issmaller than that of the parts 317. These resilient tongues 328 willalso in the pre-locked position of the locking ring be in radial contactwith the bottom of the annular groove 329 in the patient part 301, andthus also in the pre-locked position of the locking ring center thelocking ring.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a fourth embodiment of the locking mechanism of thelocking ring. A locking ring 402 is open along a radial cut, and on bothsides of the cut two rocker arms 403 and 404 are hingedly secured. Byhinges 408, provided as thin material bridges, the rocker arms 403 and404 are mutually connected as well as connected to the locking ring 402on respective sides of the radial cut. The locking ring 402 is shown inan open position in FIG. 12, allowing the ostomy bag to be changed inFIG. 13 in a locked position, in which an ostomy bag can be retained inposition in relation to a patient part (not shown). The rocker arm 404has a hook 405 which passes into engagement with a hook 406 on thelocking ring 402.

The locking mechanism is released from the locked position shown in FIG.13 by touching a tap 407 with a finger so that the hooks 405 and 406pass out of engagement. The hooks 405 and 406 may be so formed that thetap 407 must be activated either radially or axially in order to releasethe hooks 405 and 406 from their mutual engagement.

Finally, FIG. 15 shows how the coupling according to the invention canbe combined with a so-called convex ring 330. A convex ring is oftenused in connection with the ostomies which do not project from the body,but lie in the same plane or even below surface level, and it serves tokeep the adhesive plate fixed to the skin so as to prevent faecesmaterial from seeping out from below.

The coupling according to the invention may be made of ordinary plasticmaterials used for coupling in connection with ostomy and bandagingpurposes, e.g. polyethylene or EVA-materials. To ensure that the lockingring is flexible and elastically deformable, but not stretchable, it maye.g. be made of a plastic material having a somewhat higher E-modulus,e.g. polypropylene or ABS, or be provided with a fibre reinforcement ofsuch materials.

I claim:
 1. An ostomy coupling comprising:a first part for attachment toa patient; a second part secured to a collection bag and coupled in atight-fitting relationship with the first part; a radially deformablelocking ring for mutually retaining said first and second parts togetherin the tight-fitting relationship, the locking ring being an open ringhaving opposed ends, the ends being positionable in a pre-locked firstmutual position in which the locking ring has a first diameter and thecoupled first and second parts are mutually loosely connected, and asecond mutual position in which the locking ring has a second diameterand the coupled first and second parts are mutually locked; and meansfor retaining the locking ring movably with one of the first and secondparts.
 2. An ostomy coupling according to claim 1, wherein the lockingring is elastically deformable.
 3. An ostomy coupling according to claim1, further including a first locking mechanism for locking the ends ofthe locking ring in the first and second mutual positions, and a secondlocking mechanism which is independent of the first locking mechanismfor positioning the ends of the locking ring in a third mutual positionin which the locking ring has a third diameter and the locking ring isreleased from one of the first and second parts.
 4. An ostomy couplingaccording to claim 1, wherein the locking ring is retained with thefirst part.
 5. An ostomy coupling according to claim 4, wherein thesecond part has a radially, outwardly opened V-shaped groove, and thelocking ring has a radially inwardly protruding portion having a shapecomplementary to the V-shaped groove for engaging the V-shaped groove.6. An ostomy coupling according to claim 1, wherein the first part has afirst conical engagement face and the second part has a second conicalengagement face which is complementary to and engages the first conicalengagement face, when the first and second parts are retained together.7. An ostomy coupling according to claim 6, wherein at least one of thefirst and second engagement faces is provided with one or more ridgesfor contacting the respective complementary engagement face.
 8. Anostomy coupling according to claim 6, wherein the first engagement faceof the first part has an axially protruding rib along its outerperiphery.
 9. An ostomy coupling according to claim 4, wherein the meansfor retaining the locking ring comprises radially resilient tongues forcooperation with a groove disposed in the first part.
 10. An ostomycoupling according to claim 1, wherein the means for retaining thelocking ring comprises integral flexible straps connectable with thefirst part.